Button-fastener.



E. C. TEN BROOK.

BUTTON FASTENER.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 8, 191a.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA C. TEN BROOK, OF LANDER, WYOMING.

BUTTON-FASTENER.

Application filed April 8, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EZRA C. TEN BROOK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Lander, in the county of F remont and State of lVyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to button fasteners and has for its principal object the production of a simple and eliicient means whereby two buttons will be releasably held connected to each other.

Another object of this invention is the production of a button fastener which is provided with a spring link connected to the wire frames of the two buttons so as to cause these frames to hold the buttons upon a garment when in use.

Another object of this invention is the production of a button fastener in which a plurality of buttons are employed which are constructed so as to be connected to each other by means of a spring link, whereby upon the rotation of one button the remaining button is retained in a set position while the spring link will be swung apart so as to be detached from engagement with the button which is being ro tated.

YVith these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the button fastener as constructedin accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the button fastener.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the button fastener, showing the outer button in the position which it assumes after being rotated and just prior to disengaging the spring link.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the spring link.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 89,862.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals it will be seen that the button fastener is used in connection with a pair of buttons which are similarly constructed and, therefore, itis deemed that the description of one button will be suflicient for the illustration of both. 1 indicates the primary section of the button which has a cap 2 formed thereon so as to receive the spring frame 3 having the central transverse bridge 4. The auxiliary section 5 of the button is positioned upon the primary section 1 as shown most clearly in Fig. 3 so as to form a closure for the primary section 1 inasmuch as these sections 1 and 5 are formed of sheet metal in the usual manner. The spring link is formed from a single strand of resilient wire which is bent at one end as shown at 6. From this bent portion 6 there extend the parallel side arms 7 terminating in the overlapping ends 8. These ends 8 are beveled as shown at 9, so as to fit snugly upon the side portions of the side arms 7, as shown in Fig. 7 Therefore it will be seen that thelink will comprise a structure closed at both ends, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, although when so desired the side arms 7 may be sprung in opposite direction so as to move each beveled end 9 from engagement with the opposite side of the arm upon which it bears, thereby providing an opening at the upper portion of the link, through which the article retained may be removed.

when this device is in operation it is un derstood that the link is normally carried by the bridge 4: of the frame 3 of one button. The link is then passed through the garment 10 so as to permit the button to which the link is secured to be retained upon one side of the garment. The forward bent ends 8 of the link will then extend through the garment as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, while the rear bent end 6 of the link upon which the first button is secured will extend beyond the rear surface of the garment,as shown in Fig. 2. \Vhenthe forward bent ends 8 exbutton may be positioned so as to allow the Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

bridge f of the wire frame 3 thereof to extend in substantially the same parallel plane as the bent ends 8 of the link, as shown in,

Fig. 4. The button may then be compressed. inwardly so as to force the bridge 4 between the bent ends 8 and then after the button has passed below the beveled ends or points 9 it is turned about one-quarter of a revolution so as to cause the bridge 4: of the frame 3 thereoi to extend transversely beneath the bent ends 8 as shown in Fig. 1. In this manner it will be seen that the button will be eihciently retained upon the garment 10, since it will be impossible for the bridge to disengage the bent ends since it will fit between the same, extending transversely thereacross. Furthermore, it will be seen that by having the ends 9 beveled any possibility of the ends 9 injuring Or tearing the garment upon which the same is supported is prevented. It will further be seen that these beveled ends 9 will also constitute guides for directing the bridge a therebetween for when it is desired to remove the outer button from engagement with the link it is moved toward the central portion of the link beyond the inner ends of the bent ends 8 to the point 9. The outer button is then turned one-quarter of a revolution thereby springing the side arms 7 in opposite directions, thus causing the ends 8 to be sprung apart and while in this position the button may be drawn outwardly so as to cause the bridge to pass between the bent ends 8 as shown in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a. very simple and eiiicient button fastener has been constructed wherein ordinary buttons having central bridges are employed, the novelty particularly residing in the construction of the link, this link being formed of a single strand of resilient wire and having its ends bent in opposite directions so as to overlap each other, these ends being beveled to provide sharpened points resting upon the side arms so that the bent ends will permit the bridges of the buttons to pass therebetween, although when the button is turned for a little distance the bridges will engage the center portions of the bent ends, thus holding the buttons against displacement. Furthermore, by the springing action above described it will be seen that when so desired the entire structure maybe quickly removed from engagement with the garment merely by the springing of the link so as to cause the bridge of the buttons to pass from engagement therewith.

lVhat is claimed is:

As a new article of manufacture, a button fastener comprising a link, said link being formed from a single strand of resilient wire bent intermediate its ends to form side arms, said arms terminating in bent ends, said. bent ends being beveled to form points, each point being formed in alinement with the arm upon which it is formed, said arms er:- tending slightly in opposite directions, toward their bent ends so as to be slightly out of alinement, said bent ends overlapping and yieldably fitting snugly upon each other, said points fitting snugly and yieldably upon the opposite side arms from the ones upon which they are formed, said points being within )lanes extendin alon the side surb it faces of said arms, thereby causing the link to present an outer wearing surface, and said link being adapted to be attached to a aair or buttons for connecting the same to gether. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto atiiX my signature.

EZRA G. TEN BROOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

